PBSC emerges as a leader credentialing faculty in online teaching excellence

In 2024, 89 Palm Beach State College faculty members received a Certificate in Effective Online Teaching Practices—a nationally recognized teaching credential issued by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and co-endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE). Since 2022, 317 faculty members have earned this certification through PBSC. To earn the credential, the faculty members completed the ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices course and learned evidence-based teaching practices proven to improve student achievement. Aligned with research in cognition and adult learning, the ACUE course covers how to design an effective online course, establish a productive learning environment, use active learning techniques, promote higher-order thinking, and utilize assessments to inform instruction and promote learning. The 25-module course requires faculty to implement the teaching practices within their PBSC courses. "This achievement demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality education for our students," said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. "By investing in our faculty's professional development, we ensure that our courses are engaging, effective, and designed to maximize student success." "We're proud that 17 of our academic deans, associate deans, and program directors have also earned the ACUE credential in designing learner-centered courses," added Dr. Roger Yohe, vice president of Academic Innovation and Strategy. "This inclusive approach to professional development creates a culture of excellence in teaching that permeates throughout PBSC." Robb Erwin, faculty development manager, notes that an additional 82 faculty members and academic support staff are currently enrolled in the ACUE course and on target to earn the credential in 2025. The ACUE credentialed faculty represent all faculty ranks and a broad cross-section of academic disciplines. Palm Beach State College’s commitment to faculty professional development earned national recognition in June 2024, when PBSC was presented with the prestigious ACUE Movement Maker Award for creating a culture that prizes teaching excellence. The faculty members who received the credential in 2024 will be honored in a pinning ceremony on Jan. 31, 2025, on the Lake Worth campus. Special guest Dr. Jonathan Gyurko, ACUE’s president and co-founder, will present a message to the PBSC faculty at the event. Please join PBSC Online and the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence in congratulating the 2024 ACUE credential recipients:

• Celestra Alexander, Instructional Designer - Early Learning
• Alison America, Adjunct Instructor – Psychology
• Maureen Amos, Adjunct Instructor - English Composition
• Dr. Jang-Young Bang, Professor III - Physics and Earth Science
• Kendra Barnes, Adjunct Instructor - Child Development
• Elaine Beckwith, Adjunct Instructor – Psychology
• Timothy Benham, Professor I - English Composition and Literature
• Iva Bergeron, Assessment Director
• Monica Bianchi, Adjunct Instructor - College Prep English
• Michelle Biferie, Professor I – Speech
• Kathleen Bolander, Adjunct Instructor, Child Development
• Roy Boulware, Associate Professor - Mathematics
• Melissa Brasic, Adjunct Instructor - Childcare
• Christopher Brown, Adjunct Instructor - Fire Science
• Cynthia Buckley, Instructional Designer - PBSC Online
• Michael Campagna, Adjunct Instructor – Hospitality
• Dr. Armando Carrasco, Student Development Advisor and Adjunct Instructor
• Dr. Ted Cascio, Professor III – Psychology
• Gregory Cecere, Associate Professor - English Composition and Literature
• Dr. George Charles, Professor II - BAS Financial Management
• Dr. Shadreck Chitsonga, Professor III – Mathematics
• Dr. Jehu Chong, Associate Dean – PBSC Online and International Education
• Dr. Cheryl Christensen, Professor III – Biology
• Dr. Kevin Coakley, Professor II - Political Science
• Ariel Contreras - Cybersecurity Systems Network Lab Manager
• Lydia Duffey, Associate Professor - Dental Hygiene
• Harold Edwards Jr., Adjunct Instructor - Teacher Education
• Wendy Edwards, Student Achievement Regional Manager
• Francis Ennist, Adjunct Instructor - Fire Science
• Dr. Tod Fairbanks, Professor III - Biology
• Timothy Finamore, Associate Professor – Mathematics
• Dr. Paul Frankenhauser, Professor I – Criminal Justice
• Yanella Gilbert, Adjunct Instructor – Education
• Mark Gobeo, Associate Professor – Philosophy
• Dr. Wendy Gomez, Instructional Designer - Early Learning
• Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska, Professor III – Biotechnology
• Dr. Sabrina Greenwell, Professor III – Education
• Patricia Gutierrez, Instructional Designer - Early Learning
• Dr. Monica Hamlin, Professor III – Education
• Scott Hammond, Professor II - Computer Science
• Elizabeth Ibarra - Early Learning Training and Development Manager
• Katherine Johnson, Assistant Director - Early Learning
• Alia Juman, Instructional Designer - Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence
• Samar El Khayat, Professor I - Economics
• Dr. Matt Klauza, Professor III - English Composition and Literature
• Dr. Christopher Knapp, Adjunct Instructor – Biology
• Nataliya Knysh, Associate Professor - Mathematics
• Lisa LaBarbera, Adjunct Instructor - Health Information Technology
• Heidi Ladika-Cipolla, Associate Professor - Hospitality Management
• Dr. Heather LaJoie, Adjunct Instructor - Medical Terminology
• Ayhan Lambaz, Associate Professor – Architecture
• Jenna Laquerre, Assistant Professor - Sonography
• Nick LaRocca, Professor I - English Composition and Literature
• Francesca La Scala, Adjunct Instructor - English Composition, Film and Television Production
• Dr. Jamie Leeder, Program Director - Educator Preparation Institute
• Dr. Mickale Linton, Adjunct Instructor - Introduction to the College Experience
• Anna Lurie, Professor III – Mathematics
• Dr. Candice Maharaj, Adjunct Instructor, Education
• Dr. Pamela Mason-Egan, Professor III – Education
• Kayanne McCook-Russell, Adjunct Instructor – Chemistry
• Patricia McDonald, Associate Professor - English Composition and Literature
• Dr. Michael McLean, Adjunct Instructor – Nutrition
• Michael Melicia, Librarian/Associate Professor
• Dr. Jessica Miles, Professor III, Biology and Environmental Science
• Phillip Mohorn, Adjunct Instructor - CCE Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Provider
• Tyler Montgomery, Instructional Designer - PBSC Online
• Dr. Jane Montonen, Professor III, Business Management and Marketing
• Marsha Marie Mosely, Program Director - Early Childhood and K-12 Education
• Lucrecia Mourer, Adjunct Instructor Psychology
• Patricia Ortiz-Gutierrez, Early Learning Trainer
• Michael Pagan, Professor I - English Composition and Literature
• Michael Perez, Adjunct Instructor – Biology
• Duncan Pierre, Adjunct Instructor – Computer Science
• Terry Randolph, Professor I - Political Science
• Dr. Roger Rawlings, Adjunct Instructor - Art and Film
• Nicole Rice, Faculty Development Coach – PBSC Online
• Brieana Salter, Adjunct Instructor - Health Management (BAS)
• Lisa Seymour, Librarian/Associate Professor
• Jenifer Skolnick, Associate Professor - English Composition and Literature
• Deborah Snowberger, Professor I - English Composition and Literature, German
• James Sullivan, Professor I - Biology
• Nirthieca Suthakaran, Professor I – Biology
• Megyn Taback, Adjunct Instructor - Health and Physical Education
• Becky Tesheep, Instructional Designer - Early Learning
• Dr. Debra Trigoboff, Adjunct Instructor - Health and Physical Education
• Adrienne Turk, Adjunct Instructor, Art
• Monica Walley, Director of Early Childhood Education
• Brendan Walsh, Professor I - English Composition and Literature
• Erica Washington, Adjunct Instructor - Supervision and Management (BAS)